If you walk a few hundred metres upstream via a slippery path, you come to the river source that feeds Semuc: the fast-flowing Río Cahabón, most of which plunges into a cavern, cuts beneath the pools in an aquatic frenzy and emerges again downstream. For a photo-perfect view of the whole scene, you can hike, with a little climbing in sections, for about twenty minutes up a slippery, vertiginous trail to a mirador high above the pools.
There are security guards at the site, but it is best not to leave your belongings unattended. You will find a small café, with reasonable meals around US$5, and vendors selling drinks and snacks at the entrance.
While you can visit on your own, most travellers choose to see Semuc as part of a tour, which avoids waiting for infrequent public transport or tackling the terrible dirt access road. This matters on 8-day Guatemala trips, where using a tour can make the difference between a manageable day out and a frustratingly slow transfer.
Start planning your trip to Guatemala by first finding out how many days are best to spend in Guatemala and checking out our Guatemala travel tips.
